Raw sewage flows into Lake Erie after heavy rain

CLEVELAND - The discharge of raw sewage into Lake Erie Monday night has caused the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to issue a public swimming advisory at Edgewater Beach. Monday night's heavy rain caused a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event at Edgewater

Visitors, particularly children, the elderly and those in ill health, are advised to avoid contact with the water and debris.

The Sewer District will test Lake Erie waters near Edgewater Beach a minimum of twice daily and notify local officials and the media as soon as the swimming advisory can be lifted.

Greater Cleveland's earliest sewers (primarily within the City and its inner-ring suburbs) are combined sewers, meaning that they sewers carry sewage, industrial waste and storm water in a single pipe.

Combined Sewer Overflow occurs after periods of heavy rain, when there is a dramatic increase of water flowing through the combined sewers. As this happens, control devices may allow some of the combined wastewater and storm water to overflow into area waterways to prevent urban flooding.